my repertoire

the kitchen belonged
to Mom—she loved to cook
but not to teach
she wouldn’t share her space
so when I reached adulthood
I had a repertoire of one

fudge pie
it’s in the Joy of Cooking
inelegance its charm,
no prizes for its style
yet adopted by our tribe—
not vegan or gluten-free,
these days, it’s out-of-favor
just good old sugar
eggs, butter
and a smidge of flour
melted bitter chocolate
a spoonful of vanilla
oh my God! the flavor

you’ll have to whip
the egg whites
until they have stiff points
fold them in with care
and bake
the chocolaty bouquet!
accept its homely nature
then revel
a crustless cow-pie wonder

(if you want the actual recipe with quantities, post the request
with your email in a response to this poem and I’ll be happy to send it to you.)

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.